On Thursday, March 16, at the New School in New York City, the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) announced the recipients of its book awards for publishing year 2016. As with last November’s National Book Awards, a sense of political urgency hung over the proceedings.

Part of providing readers’ advisory (RA) services with ease is having books at the forefront of your mind to offer patrons with a range of interests. The bevy of fall reading lists supply plenty of choices. Here are five titles making such lists, paired with a secondary offering to keep the reading going.